GB2178284A - Mounting an implement on a frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting mechanism for mounting an implement on a frame comprises one pair of links (15, 16) lying on each side of the centre line of the implement in the direction of travel. The links of each pair are pivotally connected at opposite ends to the implement (12) and frame (1), each pair includes an upper link and a lower link, and the upper links and the lower links lie in respective parallel planes one above the other. The links (15, 16) of each pair are angled relative to one another in their respective planes thereby bracing the implement (12) against lateral movement. The upper links of each pair of links lie in a common upper horizontal plane, and the lower links of each pair of links lie in a common lower horizontal plane. Also, in the rearward direction, the upper links of each pair of links converge and the lower links of each pair of links diverge, or vice versa. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implement mounting mechanism This invention relates to a mechanism for mounting an implement on a frame so that it extends laterally of the direction oftravel oftheframe and can be raised and lowered relative to the frame. In particular, the invention relates to the mounting of a harrow on a seed drill.

It is known to mount harrows behind seed drills using trailing links which allowthe harrowtofollow the ground when in work and to allow the harrow to be lifted out of work when not needed or when the drill is being transported.

It is also known to use pairs of parallel trailing links, one abovethe other, so that an implementtrailedfrom the links is held in afixed orientation relative to the ground as it moves up and down. However, with these known linkages, there is a tendencyforthe implement to be free to move significantly in the lateral direction, causing wearto the linkages and pivotal supports and possible damage to the harrow. An object ofthe present invention isto provide a mounting mechanism in which this problem is alleviated or overcome.

A mounting mechanism according to the invention comprises one pairoflinks lying on each side ofthe centre line ofthe implement in the direction of travel, the links of each pair being pivotally connected at opposite endstothe implementand frame and lying in parallel planes one above the other, characterised in that the links of each pair are angled relative to one another in their respective planes thereby bracing the implement against lateral movement.

The invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying draw- ings in which Figure lisa plan view of a seed drill that is fitted with a harrow using a mounting mechanism according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe harrow and mounting mechanism of Figure 1,and Figure 3 is a detail from the plan view of Figure 1.

The illustrated seed drill comprises a frame 1 supported on landwheels 2 at its outer ends and towable by a tow bar 3 at its midpoint. The frame carries a seed hopper4across its length and a plurality of seed dispensing mechanisms 5 that are driven from the landwheels and meter seed from the hopper through tubes 6to each of a plurality of coulter 7 across the length oftheframe. The coulters are raised and lowered into work by a double-acting ram 8 that acts via a pivoted overhead beam 9 and a plurality of th rust transmitting members 10, each connected between the beam 9 and a respective coulter.

A harrow 11 is mounted onthe rearofthe drill and comprises a tool bar 12 that extends across the length of the drill and carries a plurality of tines 13. The toolbar 12 is connected to a rear cross-member 14 of the frame 1 by two pairs oftrailing links 15,16 disposed on opposite sides of the centre L-L line ofthe drill in the direction oftravel T. The leading end of each link is pivotally connected buy a pin 17 between a pair of upright brackets 18 on the cross-member 14, and the trailing end ofeach linkispivotallyconnectedbyapin 19 between a pair of brackets 20 on the tool bar 12.

Each pairoflinkscomprises an upper link and a lower linkwith the upper links of both pairs lying in a common plane and the lower links of batch pairs lying in a common plane parallel to the plane ofthe upper links so that the tool bar 12 is held in a fixed orientation relative to the ground as it moves vertically on the links relative to the drill. As shown in Figure 2, the tool bar 12 is set inan orientation such thatthetines 13 extend downwards and rearwards at a slight angle in orderto rideoverstones more readily.

A crank arm 21 is connected to the leading end of one ofthe upper links 15,16 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to an actuator link 22 that extends forwards and has a slot 23 in its leading end. An arm 24 is connected to the coulter actuation beam 9 and carries a pin 25 at its outer end which engages the slot 23 in the actuator link22 so that when the beam is rotated to raise the coulters 7 out ofwork, the pin 25 engagesthe leading end oftheslot23 and pullsthe actuatorlink22 forwards to raise the harrow out of work. When the coulters are in work, the pin 25 lies in a central region of the slot 23 so as to accomodate vertical movement ofthe harrow as it follows ground contours.

In orderto resistfree lateral movement ofthe harrow relative to the frame, the links of each pair 15, 16 are adapted sothattheyare angled relative to one another in their respective planes. Lateral movement therefore tends to load one link in tension and the other in compression to resist lateral movement.

Further, the upper links converge towards one another as they extend rearwards and the lower links diverge awayfrom one another asthey extend rearwards.

1. A mounting mechanism connecting an imple menttoaframe comprising one pairoflinks lying on each side ofthe centre line ofthe implement in the direction oftravel,the links of each pair being pivotally connected at opposite ends ofthe implement and frame and lying in parallel planes one above the other, characterised in thatthe links of each pair are angled relative to one another in their respective planes thereby bracing the implement against lateral movement.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the upper links of each pairof links lie in a common upper horizontal plane, and the lower links of each pairof links lie in a common lower horizontal plane.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which eithertheupperlinksofeach pairoflinksorthelower links of each pair of links converge and the other pair of links diverge.

4. Amounting mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Implement mounting mechanism This invention relates to a mechanism for mounting an implement on a frame so that it extends laterally of the direction oftravel oftheframe and can be raised and lowered relative to the frame. In particular, the invention relates to the mounting of a harrow on a seed drill. It is known to mount harrows behind seed drills using trailing links which allowthe harrowtofollow the ground when in work and to allow the harrow to be lifted out of work when not needed or when the drill is being transported. It is also known to use pairs of parallel trailing links, one abovethe other, so that an implementtrailedfrom the links is held in afixed orientation relative to the ground as it moves up and down. However, with these known linkages, there is a tendencyforthe implement to be free to move significantly in the lateral direction, causing wearto the linkages and pivotal supports and possible damage to the harrow. An object ofthe present invention isto provide a mounting mechanism in which this problem is alleviated or overcome. A mounting mechanism according to the invention comprises one pairoflinks lying on each side ofthe centre line ofthe implement in the direction of travel, the links of each pair being pivotally connected at opposite endstothe implementand frame and lying in parallel planes one above the other, characterised in that the links of each pair are angled relative to one another in their respective planes thereby bracing the implement against lateral movement. The invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying draw- ings in which Figure lisa plan view of a seed drill that is fitted with a harrow using a mounting mechanism according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation ofthe harrow and mounting mechanism of Figure 1,and Figure 3 is a detail from the plan view of Figure 1. The illustrated seed drill comprises a frame 1 supported on landwheels 2 at its outer ends and towable by a tow bar 3 at its midpoint. The frame carries a seed hopper4across its length and a plurality of seed dispensing mechanisms 5 that are driven from the landwheels and meter seed from the hopper through tubes 6to each of a plurality of coulter 7 across the length oftheframe. The coulters are raised and lowered into work by a double-acting ram 8 that acts via a pivoted overhead beam 9 and a plurality of th rust transmitting members 10, each connected between the beam 9 and a respective coulter. A harrow 11 is mounted onthe rearofthe drill and comprises a tool bar 12 that extends across the length of the drill and carries a plurality of tines 13. The toolbar 12 is connected to a rear cross-member 14 of the frame 1 by two pairs oftrailing links 15,16 disposed on opposite sides of the centre L-L line ofthe drill in the direction oftravel T. The leading end of each link is pivotally connected buy a pin 17 between a pair of upright brackets 18 on the cross-member 14, and the trailing end ofeach linkispivotallyconnectedbyapin 19 between a pair of brackets 20 on the tool bar 12. Each pairoflinkscomprises an upper link and a lower linkwith the upper links of both pairs lying in a common plane and the lower links of batch pairs lying in a common plane parallel to the plane ofthe upper links so that the tool bar 12 is held in a fixed orientation relative to the ground as it moves vertically on the links relative to the drill. As shown in Figure 2, the tool bar 12 is set inan orientation such thatthetines 13 extend downwards and rearwards at a slight angle in orderto rideoverstones more readily. A crank arm 21 is connected to the leading end of one ofthe upper links 15,16 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to an actuator link 22 that extends forwards and has a slot 23 in its leading end. An arm 24 is connected to the coulter actuation beam 9 and carries a pin 25 at its outer end which engages the slot 23 in the actuator link22 so that when the beam is rotated to raise the coulters 7 out ofwork, the pin 25 engagesthe leading end oftheslot23 and pullsthe actuatorlink22 forwards to raise the harrow out of work. When the coulters are in work, the pin 25 lies in a central region of the slot 23 so as to accomodate vertical movement ofthe harrow as it follows ground contours. In orderto resistfree lateral movement ofthe harrow relative to the frame, the links of each pair 15, 16 are adapted sothattheyare angled relative to one another in their respective planes. Lateral movement therefore tends to load one link in tension and the other in compression to resist lateral movement. Further, the upper links converge towards one another as they extend rearwards and the lower links diverge awayfrom one another asthey extend rearwards. CLAIMS

1. A mounting mechanism connecting an imple menttoaframe comprising one pairoflinks lying on each side ofthe centre line ofthe implement in the direction oftravel,the links of each pair being pivotally connected at opposite ends ofthe implement and frame and lying in parallel planes one above the other, characterised in thatthe links of each pair are angled relative to one another in their respective planes thereby bracing the implement against lateral movement.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which the upper links of each pairof links lie in a common upper horizontal plane, and the lower links of each pairof links lie in a common lower horizontal plane.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which eithertheupperlinksofeach pairoflinksorthelower links of each pair of links converge and the other pair of links diverge.

4. Amounting mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.